La Pastora

Hi Y’all,

I am Christine from Atlanta. The only one on the team with a direct flight which means I can come back so easily. I can hardly believe we have already been in Costa Rica for twelve days.

I am just getting into the routine- up at 5 am (they were not kidding) and on the finca by 7. We measure coffee trees, count beans and leaves, surrounding shade trees and ground cover. There are 3 transects in each field and each one is located by GPS. I have not been trusted with that as I am directionally challenged. I have trouble finding my way into and out of the coffee field. Today I was actually left behind. Fortunately I was rescued by my fellow volunteer, Jason and quickly put to work.

The coffee grows on steep slopes in what I like to call Georgia red clay. It is not easy to negotiate especially when wet. Most days we are covered in mud and depending on how many times you fall it could be quite a lot. The second day several of us bought rain slickers. Mine is Smurf blue and covers me from head to toe.

Todays finca, located in La Pastora, was so picturesque. The altitude of this region promotes harder beans, higher acidity and great coffee. I am learning to drink my coffee negra appreciating the aroma and flavor. We met the farmer, Eliecer Naranjo Barrantes and his son. They worked with us. The view was spectacular the surrounding hills filled with coffee fincas and shade trees of poro and palm. You could see the town of San Marcos below. The blue dome of the church stood out against the background of red orange roof tops. The day too was spectacular. The sun was out- NO RAIN. There was a gentle breeze which boosted everyone’s spirits. You know the saying all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy – Well -- Nati started a coffee bean war which turned into a banana fight. Jason managed to tag her pretty well with mashed banana. Then there was the banana throwing contest between Ingrid and Alex. Ingrid won hitting the shed way below us on the path into the finca.

It has been fun and a lot of hard work. We have worked well together from the beginning and now are just hitting our stride. Several times we have completed 2 fincas in a day having lunch in the field and returning after 3:00 to the lab. That is 6 transects to be exact. It has given me a new appreciation for coffee and all the hard work that goes into production. I can now imagine the effort it takes to pick coffee. Support Fair Trade.

It will be hard for us to leave and leave each other. It has been a unique experience and a wonderful way to connect to another culture of people as well as to the culture of coffee. While being here everything else in my life evaporated. I became so focused on our group and the tasks we had to do that it will be disorienting and challenging to return home.

Pura Vida- We will meet again.